Monday, March 31, 2008

The violence in Myanmar has died down, but the military junta is still waging war against human rights.

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar's draft constitution perpetuates military dominationof politics and protects junta members from prosecution for past actions,according to a copy of the document obtained Monday.The draft was completedin February and will go before voters in a May referendum. It has not yet beenmade public, but a copy of the 194-page text was obtained by The AssociatedPress.The draft charter allots 25 per cent of seats in both houses ofparliament to the military.It also effectively bars pro-democracy leaderAung San Suu Kyi from becoming president or a lawmaker because she was marriedto a foreigner, maintaining a controversial clause from guidelines used to draftthe charter.